PB

I guess I've never seen a  sled used for racing. I think you've referred to the "races" in the past. I think we must set them different out here or something. You're right-pickup will not move sled after it's set for 10K farm stock...without REmoving box weight. I don't know that it should be able to move it. I guess I've never seen them pull different classes without reweighting the box. Pickups have much higher drawbar height than tractors, so they can pull some #s....once they get it moving.

Most I've seen are now Bauer-built (from IA), again, we don't use them for racing though. Speed helps (= momentum), but that comes via/hp & traction & balance. Depending on the track, any class participant can select too high a gear & never get going...just like plowing. Select too low a gear & you just make a lot of noise.

I'm sure there were other early mechanicals. Not sure when you were born-but I believe I remember Watkins sled came on the scene in the mid-60s. It did not need pull back tractor either. They used a cab over Ford semi tractor that drove it's own frt wheels up on the pan & had wt box in back.